Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-23
Southern California.

The "Balance-shest" OF life.
-
Southern California.
The development OF Southern Cali
fornia is probably the most remarka
BILE development that the world has
ever seen. Its cities have within the
past two years excelled all others in
their ratio of solid and permanent
growth; its small settlements have
multiplied at pace never before seen ;
and its vacant lands have been taken
up by actual occupants at rate still
more rapid. The whole has been
done in O manner and by class OF
settlers that were surely never seen
elsewhere.
There are those who sneer at this
before they see it, but few, if any, af-
ter seeing it and learning its basis.
Though called "boom" in Southern
California, it is in no sense such
though some form of speculation nec-
essarily breaks upon the crest of the
great wave. 1t is a growth-a growth
rapid in its pace and singular in its
methods; new departure in the his
tory OF progress; new chapter in po-
litical economy, confounding all wis.,
dom drawn from experience elsewhere.
And yet there is nothing new about
it all. The movement has only broken
from walk into a run. 1t has been
going on for years, in both the coun-
ties of Los Angeles and San Bernar-
dino in quiet way, but with steadily
advancing steps, and it is only within
the last two years that it has to any
extent overfiowed upon San Diego,
Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Thousands have long known that
Southern California would, in time,
be overrun with just such host as is
filing it now, but few expected to see
it taken by storm.
The present immigration is induced
largely by the great productive powers
of the soil and its marvellous range Of
production, which render possible the
making of elegant and luxurious
homes combined with profit. But the
principal cause is unquestionably its
climate. ct the immigration is ut
terly different from the travel to Flor
ida.
Lovely as are the winters Of South
en California, they would only at
tract, az in Florida, for few weeks;
but in Southern California the m jor-
ity of the settlers are people who have
dallied with the summer just long
enough to be enraptured with its
charms.
Nearly all these immigrants are peo-
pie of means. Not one in twenty is in
any sense an invalid. They are sim
ply tired of the constant friction
which Eastern climates impose upon
the machinery OF existence. They can
afford to take if- easy, and are deter
mined to endure no more ice and
snow, cyclones, hot nights and thun-
der-storms. For fully 95 per cent. of
such people Southern California is
their last home this side of the grave.
Though many may be found ready to
sell, it is only to get money for better
bargains which they see around them.
Not one in hundred, after a
years residence, could be driven from
the land or kept out of it by flaming
sword at every gate. The tide of such
people keeps steadily increasing. 1t
has been increasing for SO many years
that its continuance may, up to GER
tain figure, be calculated as certainly
as the summer travel from New York
Harbor to Liverpool. And the pro-
portion of those that will remain for
life may be reckoned with as much
certainty as the proportion Of European
tourists who will return in the au-
tumn.
The result of all this is a develop
ment that astonishes even those who
have most confidently expected it.
Not only are great railroads enmesh-
ing the land with feeders, but private
enterprise is at work at things never
seen elsewhere until increase of popu-
lation makes them necessity. Cor
onado Beach, that less than two years
ago was a waste of brush, tenanted
only by the hare, wildcat and coyote,
upon which six hundred thousand
dollars were spent before lot was
offered for sale, where two and a hall
millions worth of lots have been sold
in nine months, every dollar of which
is being put back by the company in
improvements on the grandest scale,
is but an instance of what is going on
in all directions.
Although the great million-dollal
Hotel del Coronado, now almost ready
for guests, with all its rooms engaged
before the foundations were finished
has vet no equal elsewhere, hotels
still fine enough, the electric light
steam dummy roads, extensive sewel
systems, boulevards, immense watel
works, and other Improvements
which in Eastern cities have to wal
the slow voice of time, are here callet
into lusty life before the new settle
ment has reached the dignity OF vii
lage. -.
II all this were being done on credit
it would be dangerous; but its founda
ton is steady stream Of eastern cap
ital, 80 strong and broad that evel
Southern California is too small for II
1t is overfowing into Mexico, and ia
down in Lower California millions
dollars are at work in way that pars
lyzes even the Americans with wor
der.
To the Eastern mind nothing woul
appear more absurd than going to th1
low latitude, where the winters al
warmer than those of Florida. to e.
cape the heat of Eastern summer
Yet nothing is more certain than tn
land will shortly be the greatest sun
mer resort of America. Its clear skie
dry air, cool nights, great freedol
from insect and reptile pests, fro
malaria. hydrophobia and sunstrokt
it's great healthfulness for childre
especially in their second summer i
unfailing sea breeze, yet absolute fre
dom from all dangerous winds; i
low midday temperature along Il
coast-all these combined with
grand and varied scenery, its uniq
and endless powers of production, a
swiftly producing their necessary l
suit. As New York fills Con